West Chester Railroad (1831-1903)
Encyclopedia
The West Chester Railroad was chartered in 1831 and began operation in 1832. The railroad line ran from West Chester, Pennsylvania
for 9 miles (14.5 km) to Malvern, Pennsylvania
, where it connected with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. Service was originally provided with horse-drawn cars.
The rail line originally terminated in West Chester near the corner of East Chestnut and North Matlack Streets. The first permanent station was built in 1846 and the line was rebuilt in the late 1840s to support steam locomotive
s. The line was later routed to the East Market Street station of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad
(WC&P).
The Pennsylvania Railroad
(PRR) took over the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1857, and began leasing the West Chester Railroad in 1859, and completed an acquisition of the West Chester in 1903. The PRR re-routed the northern end of the line to a connection with the main line at Frazer
in 1880, and subsequently the line was known as the "Frazer Branch." The PRR ended passenger service on the Frazer Branch in 1932, while service continued on the WC&P line (known until then as the "Media Branch," and later as the "West Chester Branch") until 1986. The Frazer branch tracks were removed in the early 1960s.
The currently-operating West Chester Railroad
is a tourist railroad which runs trains between West Chester and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
on the Media/West Chester Branch.
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
for 9 miles (14.5 km) to Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census. The main road through the borough is King Street, although the borough is also bordered by Paoli Pike on the south, and is near US 30 on the north. The primary cross street is Warren...
, where it connected with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. Service was originally provided with horse-drawn cars.
The rail line originally terminated in West Chester near the corner of East Chestnut and North Matlack Streets. The first permanent station was built in 1846 and the line was rebuilt in the late 1840s to support steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s. The line was later routed to the East Market Street station of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad
West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad
The West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad operated in the greater Philadelphia area in the 19th century. It later became the West Chester Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad , and is now called the Media/Elwyn Line on the SEPTA system....
(WC&P).
The Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) took over the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in 1857, and began leasing the West Chester Railroad in 1859, and completed an acquisition of the West Chester in 1903. The PRR re-routed the northern end of the line to a connection with the main line at Frazer
Frazer, Pennsylvania
Frazer, Pennsylvania is a community in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, United States....
in 1880, and subsequently the line was known as the "Frazer Branch." The PRR ended passenger service on the Frazer Branch in 1932, while service continued on the WC&P line (known until then as the "Media Branch," and later as the "West Chester Branch") until 1986. The Frazer branch tracks were removed in the early 1960s.
The currently-operating West Chester Railroad
West Chester Railroad
The West Chester Railroad is a privately owned and operated tourist railroad that runs between Market Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania in Chester County and the village of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania in Delaware County....
is a tourist railroad which runs trains between West Chester and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
Glen Mills is an unincorporated community in Concord Township and Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States about 17 miles from Philadelphia. Glen Mills is known for its gardens and its golf course. Major offices including Deloitte with a headcount of about 100 people...
on the Media/West Chester Branch.